a pipe

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   a tube used to carry water, gas, or other liquids or gases from one place to another.

   Grammar: Countable: use 'a pipe' for one, 'pipes' for several.

   Patterns

   • a water pipe
   • a gas pipe
   • lay a pipe
   • fix a pipe

   The plumber replaced a broken pipe under the sink.

   A pipe carries water from the tank to the house.

   They dug a trench to lay a new pipe.

2. 2nouncountable

   a tube with a small bowl at one end, used for smoking tobacco.

   Grammar: Countable: 'a pipe' is one smoking pipe; 'pipes' is more than one.

   Patterns

   • smoke a pipe
   • light a pipe
   • a tobacco pipe

   He sat by the fire and smoked a pipe.

   My grandfather kept a pipe on the mantelpiece.

   She bought a wooden pipe as a gift.

Word forms

Common combinations

water pipe

The water pipe burst during the cold snap.

gas pipe

A gas pipe runs along the outside wall.

smoke a pipe

He likes to smoke a pipe after dinner.

pipe dream

His plan to become a millionaire overnight is just a pipe dream.

Synonyms and how they differ

tube

A tube is a more general word for a hollow cylinder; a pipe is usually for carrying fluids or for smoking.

duct

A duct is a pipe or channel for air or cables, often in buildings; a pipe is more often for water or gas.

Word family

piping noun

A system of pipes, or the act of putting in pipes.

piper noun

A person who plays a pipe or bagpipes.

Commonly confused: a pipe or tube?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “a pipe”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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